While ASF doesn't directly infect humans, it is fatal in domesticated pigs and wild boar, and infected herds must be culled.
Pork is a staple food item in China, and a major source of meat protein, so the loss of a significant percentage of their production is more than just an economic concern (see COCA Call: Diseases of Food Animals Threaten Global Food Security).
Exact losses are difficult to calculate, but we've seen estimates that anywhere from 1/3rd to 1/2 of China's pig production has been lost to the disease (see ASF China: Global agribusiness suffers; estimates vary).
There has even been speculation that pork shortages may driven many in China to consume more exotic `bush meat' options often sold in wet markets, and might have played a part in the emergence of COVID.
Taiwan has thus far managed to keep ASF out of their island nation, although they have dealt with ASF infected pig carcasses washing up on their beaches (see Taiwan: Another `Sea Drift' ASF-Positive Pig Recovered), and travelers from (mostly from China & Vietnam) attempting to bringing small quantities of ASF-positive food products into the country in their luggage.
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| Recently Confiscated Items - Credit BAPHIQ |
In 2018 the FAO described how easily ASF can cross borders, and even oceans.
A robust virus with a long life
The ASF virus is very hardy and can survive long periods in very cold and very hot weather, and even in dried or cured pork products. The strain detected in China is similar to one that infected pigs in eastern Russia in 2017 but, so far, and while the investigations continue, the China Animal Health and Epidemiology Center has found no conclusive evidence of this latest outbreak's source or linkages.
"The movement of pig products can spread diseases quickly and, as in this case of African Swine Fever, it's likely that the movement of such products, rather than live pigs, has caused the spread of the virus to other parts of China," explained Juan Lubroth, FAO's Chief Veterinarian.
Over the weekend, however, Taiwan announced the discovery of a large quantity of smuggled food products from Vietnam- including 60.275 kg of pork products, 5.81 kg of chicken products, and 5.701 kg if beef products - at a warehouse in Yulin.
Laboratory analysis reveals at least some of the meat was positive for the ASF virus. How it got past customs, and whether any contaminated meat has made it into the local food chain remains unknown. The following statement comes from Taiwan's BAPHIQ (Bureau of Animal Plant Health Inspection & Quarantine).
The Central Disaster Response Center for the first seizure of smuggled meat with African swine fever virus in China initiates emergency response measures
Release Date: 2021-08-22
The Central Disaster Response Center for African Swine Fever (hereinafter referred to as the Central Disaster Response Center) of the Executive Yuan stated that on August 19, 110, the Douliu Sub-bureau of the Yunlin County Police Bureau (referred to as the Douliu Sub-bureau) notified the seizure of pork products, and the Animal and Plant Quarantine of the Agricultural Committee of the Executive Yuan Bureau (Prevention and Inspection Bureau) Keelung Branch, New Taipei City Government Finance Bureau, New Taipei City Government Health Bureau, New Taipei City Government Animal Protection and Epidemic Prevention Department and other units went to jointly investigate and apprehend.
The investigation results of the case found that animal products totaled 71.786 kg (60.275 kg for pork products, 5.81 kg for chicken products, and 5.701 kg for beef products); and 15.74 kg for plant products (small onions). The above-mentioned smuggled goods have been reported to the prosecutors for approval by the investigating agency and have been handed over to the Yunlin Animal and Plant Epidemic Prevention Station for destruction. It is confirmed that they will not enter the market; the suspect has been interrogated by the prosecutor again today (22). The specimens were then sent to the Animal Health Laboratory (Animal Health Institute) of the Agriculture Committee of the Executive Yuan for inspection. Today the Animal Health Institute reported that the meat was positive for African swine fever (ASF).
In response to this incident, the Central Disaster Response Center held a meeting today and initiated emergency response measures.
After taking an inventory of possible risks, Commander Chen Ji Zhong of the Central Disaster Response Center instructed at the meeting that in addition to continuing to strengthen the border quarantine work through the inter-ministerial cooperation mechanism, he will immediately conduct a comprehensive investigation of Deng suspected of trafficking through relevant evidence. The upstream, middle and downstream pathways block the possible risk of infection. At the same time, the Food and Drug Administration of the Ministry of Health and Welfare and the Council of Agriculture will initiate market investigations to prevent illegal importation of meat.The Environmental Protection Agency will inspect the cooking operations of pig-raising kitchen waste with the Council of Agriculture to confirm that the cooking is in compliance with the regulations. The response center also reminded Chinese people not to bring animal and plant products when returning from abroad, and also called on pig farmers to independently implement the access control and control of pig farm personnel and vehicles (including pig trucks, feed trucks, chemical vehicles and visitor vehicles, etc.). The area is cleaned and disinfected regularly to maintain the bio-safety measures of the pig farm.The Central Disaster Response Center once again reminded that imported meat must be quarantined in accordance with the Regulations on the Prevention and Control of Animal Infectious Diseases. If the regulations are violated, not only will the quarantine objects be confiscated and destroyed, they will also be punished in accordance with Article 41 of the Regulations on the Prevention and Control of Animal Infectious Diseases. A fixed-term imprisonment of less than one year and a fine of less than NT$ 3 million will be imposed. Please do not try yourselves.
- In 2015's A Quail Of A Tale the U.S. Customs Agency intercepted 26 pounds of raw quail eggs at Boston's Logan Airport in the luggage of a traveler from Vietnam, who declared the items, apparently unaware of the danger they posed.
- In May of 2013, in All Too Frequent Flyers, we saw a Vietnamese passenger, on a flight into Dulles Airport, who was caught with 20 raw Chinese Silkie Chickens in his luggage.
- The following month we saw a traveler (see Vienna: 5 Smuggled Birds Now Reported Positive For H5N1) attempt to smuggle 60 live birds into Austria from Bali, only to have 39 die in transit, and five test positive for H5N1. Fortunately, no humans were infected.
This is the first report detailing the isolation of H7N9 from raw meat products outside mainland China and suggests that the illegal transport of poultry is a possible cause of the spread of the virus in Asia, the authors wrote.
In the fall of 2019, just 3 months before our attentions were diverted by COVID we looked at the very real possibility of this virus being imported into the United States (see Nature Sci. Rpts: Risk of African Swine Fever Virus Introduction into the United States).
And just three weeks ago, in DEFRA: Preliminary Assessment Of ASF Outbreak In the Americas (Dominican Republic), we saw the first report of ASF in the Americas in nearly 4 decades.
Whether we are talking another pandemic, or a devastating agricultural disease or pestilence - the next global crisis will be upon us soon enough without our aiding and abetting its spread. Yet we seem hell bent - through either ignorance, greed, or simple hubris - on doing whatever we can to hurry it along.
